[BCVHFA] Elmer's Corner -- Observing Band Edges

[K8CM]

 From a recent e-mail initiated by the Field & Regulatory 
Correspondent, American Radio Relay League.
================================

Elmer's Corner -- Observing Band Edges

There is sure to be a lot of new HF activity when the new regulations 
take effect on February 23.  Please remember that operators are 
required to keep their entire transmitted signal within the band 
limits.  This means that if you are operating SSB mode your signal is 
typically 2.8 kHz wide so a rule of thumb is to stay 3 kHz from the 
edge of the band.  For example if a Technician class operator wants 
to operate SSB on the 10 meter band then the operator should not 
operate any lower than 28.303 MHz or any higher than 28.497 MHz in 
order to stay within the band limits.

Band edges also need to be observed when operating CW, RTTY, Data and 
all modes permitted in the Amateur service.

Overdriving a SSB transmitter make your signal unreadable and it will 
cause splatter that can be outside of the band.  It is not just good 
amateur practice to produce clean transmitted signals--it's also the 
law, part 97.307.

ARRL Regulatory Information Branch (RIB) issues reminders regarding 
new rules (Mar 2, 2007) -- The ARRL Regulatory Information Branch 
advises all Technician and Novice licensees that they may not operate 
FM mode on 10 meters (or anywhere else below 30 MHz). Novices and 
Technicians may operate CW and data on the segment 28.1 to 28.3 MHz, 
and CW and SSB phone on the segment 28.3 to 28.5 MHz. Novice and 
Technicians must limit their output power to 200 W PEP on these 
10-meter segments and on any HF bands where they have privileges (ie, 
CW on 80, 40 and 15 meters). Amateur Radio FM emissions are not 
permitted below 29.0 MHz. The RIB also notes that a valid Certificate 
of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for element credit 
issued prior to February 23, 2007, does not automatically convey 
operating privileges under the new rules. The holder must first 
redeem the CSCE by applying at an examination session and paying any 
application fee. If the Volunteer Examiner (VE) team accepts the CSCE 
for element credit, it will issue a CSCE for upgrade credit. Only 
then may upgraders operate under their new privileges, identifying as 
/AG (if upgrading to General) or /AE (if upgrading to Amateur Extra) 
until the FCC Universal Licensing System 
(<http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/>ULS) database reflects their new 
license class. A CSCE is only valid for 365 days from the date of 
issuance, no exceptions.